SHEDDING OUT OF THEIR REDSHIRTS

CORAL GABLES -- Donnell Bennett and Malcolm Pearson know what some people back home might be thinking. That the former Broward high school football stars have slipped into the cracks, unable to compete at the next level.

But that's hardly the truth as Bennett and Pearson prepare for the opening of fall practice at the University of Miami.

"People who know about football," Pearson said, "know the situation."

The situation is this: Cardinal Gibbons' Bennett and St. Thomas' Pearson, redshirted last year along with the rest of their UM freshmen class, enter fall practice as two of the more promising young players on the Hurricanes' roster.

Though they are behind veterans on the depth chart, Bennett at fullback and Pearson at strong safety, both are expected to see playing time, Bennett's perhaps extensive.

"Donnell had a great spring," said UM coach Dennis Erickson. "He's got an opportunity to come in and play, because we really have only one proven back.

"With Malcolm it's just a matter of time. He's going to be a great player. We've got two seniors at strong safety, but those kids are going to be gone a year from now and Malcolm's got a great chance to be a starter for three years."

Their outlook toward the future is much more positive than a year ago, when Bennett and Pearson found themselves struggling to deal with the realities of college football.

Just a few months earlier, they were the celebrated stars of their high school teams. Showered with attention by peers and by recruiters from major colleges across the country.

But when Pearson and Bennett reported to UM, they became just two more lowly freshmen. And if that wasn't enough, they quickly acquired another tag. Redshirts.

Erickson has a policy that nearly all freshman will sit out their first season, allowing them to develop and adjust to college while retaining four years of eligibility.

"We do it unless they can come in and immediately play a lot," Erickson said. "I don't want to waste a freshman just to be on special teams."

But for Bennett and Pearson, first-team members of the 1989 Sun-Sentinel All- County team, the news brought a similar reaction.

"It was very frustrating," said Pearson, a defensive back who had 188 tackles in his last two years at St. Thomas. "You're used to high school, being a star. I started for three years."

Bennett rushed for 1,060 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior at Gibbons, where he was also a standout linebacker.

"I thought I was going to at least come in and play some special teams," he said. "After they told us we were redshirting, I thought briefly about (transferring to another school). But then I thought about the future here."

"He's got a tremendous opportunity to play quite a bit, and not only at running back," Erickson said of Bennett. "He's a great tackler, and we plan to use him on some special teams. He's a real strong kid. He's built like that anyway, but he's also worked real hard in the weight room."

After a long year spent on the scout team, working against UM starters with no game to look forward to at the end of the week, Bennett is excited about the upcoming season.

"I'm going to get some playing time, and it's just up to me to make the most of it," he said.

Bennett and Pearson both made the most of the offseason, following up impressive spring showings by spending the summer in Coral Gables, attending classes and working out with other Hurricane players.

Bennett (6 feet 2, 220 pounds) has increased his bench press to 380, highest among current UM backs. And Pearson (6-1, 205), already known to hit more like a linebacker than a safety, has added 10 pounds of muscle in a year while raising his bench press to 340.

Seniors Charles Pharms and Hurlie Brown will compete for the starting job at strong safety, but Pearson made progress in the spring and expects to see time in the secondary this fall.

"My role is basically going to be special teams," he said. "But I should get to come in a little when we use the nickel, and (defensive coordinator Sonny) Lubick said he'll probably use me in goal-line situations.

"I feel good. A lot of it's going to depend on two-a-days. I think I can jump up some on the depth chart like I did in the spring."